The other day, my older sister called to invite us to a gathering for her son’s birthday. When she mentioned the date, I glanced at my calendar and burst into laughter like a teenager who just discovered candy. “Oh man, I’m triple booked!” I exclaimed, using that same exhausting, list-making tone that every parent seems to adopt as we try to illustrate just how busy we really are.
“Our oldest will be off on a scout trip to the Grand Canyon, while his little brother has a camping trip at Pine Ridge with his Cub Scouts. But if it rains, he’ll be at a soccer tournament instead! Not to mention the baseball practice and their sister’s dance recital we have to navigate around. But hey, maybe we can swing by sometime before, during, or after all that… although, I’m not hopeful.”
And that’s what a typical spring weekend sounds like in our household.
When I look at my calendar, it’s a dizzying array of commitments, enough to make my eyes cross like a cartoon character who’s just been hit with one too many anvils. It feels like staring at that perplexing optical illusion, the Endless Road, trying to figure out whether I’m moving forward or backward, wishing I could just ditch the chaos and take the elevator instead.
Meanwhile, my parents were all set to attend my nephew’s party and were over the moon about it. “We can’t wait to see you!” my mom exclaimed. When I recounted my impossible list of scheduling conflicts, she chuckled, “Hmm. You sound just like your sister now. I thought you said that would never be your life?” Touché, Mom.
Of course, I did say that. Many of us parents make that rookie mistake, disregarding the wisdom of those who have been down this road before us, confidently asserting that our experience would surely differ.
Lessons Learned
See, my sister started her family almost a decade ahead of me, giving me a front-row seat to her parenting rollercoaster—full of ups, downs, and a few loop-de-loops. Time and again, my partner and I have watched with a mix of horror and judgment, silently thinking, “No way, that won’t be us.”
- Co-sleeping? Not a chance.
- Prioritizing family time over couple time? Absolutely not.
- Our kids will never speak to us that way, dress that way, or behave that way. No way.
That won’t be us. And we will definitely not be one of those over-scheduled families with a chaotic, color-coded calendar that looks like a rainbow exploded. We’ll never miss important occasions like Father’s Day or birthdays because we committed to a sports event instead.
Yet, here we are.
We’ve got a 9-year-old with frequent nightmares who almost nightly creeps into our bed. His twin sister is keen on dressing like a twenty-something. We’ve faced the eye rolls, the attitude, and couple time? That vanished along with sleeping in and the luxury of a tidy home.
Despite all my judgments and protests, I’ve found myself on this impossible staircase. We’re often unsure if we’re coming or going. My kids have their own plans, friends, sports, and all the delightful things that keep us running around like crazed individuals. Apparently, these little beings I helped create have their own thoughts, personalities, and interests. Who would’ve guessed?
Well, my mom knew. My sister knew. And everyone who’s navigated this parenting path before us knew that we would eventually join them. They tried to warn us, but we stubbornly stuck our fingers in our ears and sang, “Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah,” convinced that we would never become like them.
And now, every single thing those seasoned parents predicted has come true. Every stage, every phase. We still have a long way to go. So, it’s my turn to pass down advice to the next wave of parents—which you’ll likely ignore, and I wouldn’t blame you. Here it is anyway: Never say never, embrace the impossible, and be ready to accept that one day, this might just be you. Because despite what you may think now, you’re not alone, and like the rest of us, you’ll manage to navigate it all too.
My sister’s kids are now teenagers—one’s nearly off to college. Every time she calls with tales of who dented the car, missed curfew, or got caught in a questionable situation, my partner and I nod knowingly. We get it, because we know that’s our future too. But when I hear about her and her husband finally taking a vacation to the Caribbean, we cross our fingers and smile. “Oh yes, that will definitely be us.”
Additional Resources
For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this excellent resource from Healthline on pregnancy, and if you’re interested in self insemination, visit Make A Mom for their comprehensive at-home insemination kit. Don’t forget to check out our other blog post on parenting advice to stay engaged with the journey.
Summary
In this lighthearted reflection on parenting, Jamie Thompson humorously shares the chaos of family life, revealing how easily we fall into the patterns we once swore we wouldn’t. Despite initial judgments and assumptions about parenting, it turns out that many experiences are universal. The narrative explores the unexpected turns of parenthood while offering relatable advice for new parents, reminding us all that we are not alone in this journey.